Isn't tweezerep an ascending series of chromatic runs? I agree that whatever key you play something in does not translate into tension/release, but is instead determined by tonal distance from the tonic notes/chords. But, in terms of scales, (and I could eeeeasily be wrong here) aren't you necessarily stepping out of the satisfying resolution notes within those scales once you do repeating chromatic sequences? These are based on a pattern of distance within the group of notes themselves rather than in a larger context of a particular scale. And as you go higher in tone with the repeating pattern the tension naturally builds until there is a resolve, in the case of tweezerep a D note or chord (and gordo bomb).

I think this increase in tension by employing chromatics in a tonally ascending run might be what the original reviewer meant by the tension being higher with a higher tone. Also, from a purely guitar-oriented point of view in the pentatonic the D scale starts on the tenth fret leaving less room to go higher in tone than with the A.

Disclaimer: I know I play a bad guitar. Its been a reeeal long time since I looked up scales/music theory on the interwebs as a highschool kid learning to play guitar.

One question I have to any of the people with actual credentials on here is: don't all modes (Mixolydian, Ionian, Dorian, whatever) have a starting point dictated by the key? 10th fret for D, 5th for A, etc?